BURSON AUDIO CONDUCTOR VIRTUOSO 2+ HEADPHONE DAC PREAMP REVIEW
November 9, 2018 Comments Off on BURSON AUDIO CONDUCTOR VIRTUOSO 2+ HEADPHONE DAC PREAMP REVIEW
“There’s so much to like here; from the five-year warranty to the way the detents on the volume control feel under your hand. This is a very well realised headphone amplifier/DAC that shows just how professional Burson Audio has become, and the last round showed the company wasn’t exactly goofing around. The Conductor V2+ is beautifully made, can drive practically everything, sounds powerful and full of bass while staying lithe and detailed, and the only real fault I can find is those damn blue volume settings. The original was a real star; this one’s a supernova! ”
© Ross Harvey
Focal Kanta No.2 loudspeaker $9999 Review
November 9, 2018 Comments Off on Focal Kanta No.2 loudspeaker $9999 Review
“The Kanta No.2s are provided with bases made of Zomac, an alloy of zinc and aluminum, that include spikes that can be extended by turning knurled knobs, similar to the method used by Monitor Audio—a convenient design that permits the precise control of leveling. I first listened to the Focals with the spikes retracted, extending them only when I felt the speakers were in their final positions, and protecting my wood floor with metal discs. Listening to the sort of bass-heavy music that’s expected to reveal the effects of spikes, I compared the Focals’ sound with and without spikes, going back and forth several times. The spikes certainly made an audible difference, but I wasn’t sure it was an improvement. With spikes, the bass was a little tighter but also a bit subdued—which may be another way of saying “tighter.” But see my discussion below of the effects of IsoAcoustics’ Gaia isolation devices for speakers.”
JOMO AUDIO TANGO $1450 REVIEW
November 8, 2018 Comments Off on JOMO AUDIO TANGO $1450 REVIEW
“The Tango is not bass light and bass has an emphasis at all times. Depending on the source used you’ll get even more or a bit less bass, but it’s always there in quantity and impact. The thing I really love about the Tango is how well this bass is executed. It goes deep, has excellent sub bass and really great detail and layering. If you don’t like bigger bass then the Tango isn’t the one for you but at the same time I wouldn’t say this is a basshead’s IEM either, as the bass is always as tight, as fast and as in control as it can be with the quantity it displays.”
Pro-Ject Primary E Turntable Review
November 8, 2018 Comments Off on Pro-Ject Primary E Turntable Review
“udging the performance of an affordable turntable is always something of a balancing act. I am a fully paid up fan of the format but I have no trouble admitting that all other variables being eliminated, even a good affordable turntable (and even some fairly unaffordable ones) will lose a measurement fight with an Audioquest Dragonfly, let alone something more expensive. At the same time, there are a significant number of areas that turntables need to hit in order for a record to be something other than a stereotypical ‘warm and smooth’ sound. What is notable is how many of these basics the Primary E manages to cover. ”
KII THREE ACTIVE LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM REVIEW
November 8, 2018 Comments Off on KII THREE ACTIVE LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM REVIEW
“The Kii Three is clean, detailed and even in the bass to an extent that is rare at almost any price, so it shows you both the nature of the original signal and the partnering electronics with considerable clarity. With some recordings this can slide into a degree of exposure that is less appealing than you might hope. Van Morrison’s voice on Astral Weeks [Warner], for instance, sounds as if it’s a little too much for the microphones: there is an audible strain. At the same time, what he is singing and what the band is playing has never been clearer. If you want to decipher lyrics I’m certain there is not a better speaker for the purpose; this was made clear playing Radiohead’s A Moon Shaped Pool [XL] where Thom Yorke’s mutterings were made intelligible for the first time in my experience. I’m not saying they made much sense, but the words themselves were clear. Separation of instruments and voices is likewise transparently obvious, so that you can hear the characteristics of each with utmost ease. One visitor put on a Bob Dylan track he has been playing for decades [‘Absolutely Sweet Marie’ from Blonde on Blonde, Columbia] and was stunned by how much he could hear in the mix, the way the drums sounded being particularly novel. Material with plenty of bass was even more explicitly exposed; this is where the room has the greatest impact on the overall sound and by minimising this aspect the Kii Three opens up the lower registers and makes them as transparent as the mid and top. ”
Manley Absolute Headphone Amplifier – Premiere Review $3800 Review
November 7, 2018 Comments Off on Manley Absolute Headphone Amplifier – Premiere Review $3800 Review
“Just when you think the personal listening world cannot come up with anything new, the Manley Absolute Headphone Amplifier brings a mountain of new features and improvements to the party. Not only is the Absolute the most beautiful headphone amp in the room, but it is also chock-full of useful adjustments you really need to achieve the unfailing musicality you crave. With extremely quiet operation, just as quiet as solid state, you will love the satisfaction of owning this masterpiece, regardless of your headphones or musical tastes.”
Elipson Prestige Facet 6B BT Speaker Review
November 7, 2018 Comments Off on Elipson Prestige Facet 6B BT Speaker Review
”
My testing primarily focused on music, because these speakers are sold as an audiophile solution, but I did also try them with my TV, games console, PVR and Blu-ray player. The sound quality of the LG C8 is actually very impressive for an ultra-slim TV, but putting the 6B BT speakers either side of the screen lifted the audio to another level.
The front soundstage was wider, deeper and more refined. The sense of stereo separation and the improved imaging this allows, resulted in more precise localisation of effects and instruments. The superior mid-range ensured that dialogue was clear, while the excellent treble gave the higher frequencies more presence.”
WELLS AUDIO INAMMORATA SIGNATURE AMPLIFIER REVIEW
November 6, 2018 Comments Off on WELLS AUDIO INAMMORATA SIGNATURE AMPLIFIER REVIEW
“The Wells Signature portrays the rest of music honestly, without the embellishments of tube gear. What many reviewers call “tube magic” my friend Joe Jurzec calls “enhancements,” additions to the signal that weren’t present at the performance. Of course, this effect will depend on your system. If your equipment tends toward the analytical, you may benefit from a little softening; but that is a deficiency in your system, and you shouldn’t try to correct one error with another.”
Pass Labs XA200.8 Monoblocks $44,000/pair Review
November 5, 2018 Comments Off on Pass Labs XA200.8 Monoblocks $44,000/pair Review
‘It’s worth mentioning how well the 200.8s work with any source. I’ve used these monoblocks with about two dozen different sources, balanced and single ended with no problem. Using the Pass XS Pre and the Audio Research REF 6 (the only preamplifiers I have that sound equally good through the RCA and XLR outputs) with 20-foot runs of Cardas Clear cable, I could not notice any difference in sound quality. So rest assured, whatever your source it will partner up with these amps perfectly.
And it’s the same for the output. Whether using the most power hungry Magnepans, treacherous ESLs, etc., there was no speaker that the 200.8s had the least bit of difficulty with. I’ve never used an amplifier more benign in that sense than any of the Pass products. They are impervious to speaker and cable differences, making it all that much easier to hear said nuances. This is why I love using their amplifiers as a reference – they let everything else through.”
Uniti Atom Review $3500 Review
November 4, 2018 Comments Off on Uniti Atom Review $3500 Review
“As others have reported there are a couple of killer features in the Uniti streamer. Chromecast support is one of them, but maybe turn off Google analytics; you do not need to give them stuff! I think it is terrific to get music from other sources like SoundCloud significantly expanding your horizons for music discovery. The Bluetooth support is a fun extension to allow others to play their music while in your home. The Atom is a Goldilocks device; the porridge is at the right temperature, and the bed is comfortable.”
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